First of all can I say thank you to all those people who have been emailing or calling my office, urging me to reconsider my decision to stand down at the next election after 25 years in public life in Reading. Whilst I appreciate all the kind things that have been said, I’m afraid my mind is made up. I’m very much looking forward to the next chapter in my life and to using what skills and experience I’ve amassed to benefit the work of a national charity.

First of all can I say thank you to all those people who have been emailing or calling my office, urging me to reconsider my decision to stand down at the next election after 25 years in public life in Reading. Whilst I appreciate all the kind things that have been said, I’m afraid my mind is made up. I’m very much looking forward to the next chapter in my life and to using what skills and experience I’ve amassed to benefit the work of a national charity.

Conservative “backwoodsmen” MPs finally dropped their opposition to a Bill sponsored by Reading Borough Council and supported by Thames Valley Police and town centre businesses and street traders aimed at regulating the activities of pedlars who were undermining the legitimate traders in the town. Currently, pedlars are able to operate under the 1871 Pedlars’ Act on the purchase of a £12.50 annual pedlars’ licence. Police and council officials had reported widespread abuses with the selling of counterfeit goods and the arrest of a number of pedlars for a variety of offences including illegal immigration.

Reading West MP Martin Salter has joined forces with his Conservative colleague across the river in the Henley constituency in a joint submission to the public inquiry into the proposed toll hike by the Whitchurch Bridge Company. The Company plans to double the toll to 40p for each crossing which represents an effective five-fold increase over the last six years.